“I Turned Pale When I Saw the Budokan”—Prosecutors Seek Two-Year Prison Term in Def Tech’s Micro Cocaine Case

Cocaine came as a bonus with MDMA

The first trial of Yuki Nishimiya (45), better known as Micro of the music unit Def Tech, was held at the Tokyo District Court on June 1. Nishimiya is charged with violating the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act for possessing dried cannabis and using cocaine and other drugs. Prosecutors sought a prison sentence of two years.

“Def Tech is a unit consisting of Micro and Shen, who grew up in Hawaii. Their debut album ‘Def Tech,’ which included the hit song ‘My Way’ released in 2005, sold 2.8 million copies.  arrest came just before the group’s 20th anniversary concert at Nippon Budokan, forcing the show to be canceled and affecting many related parties. Issues such as cancellation penalties have likely arisen as well,” said a music industry source.

Nishimiya was arrested in the act by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare’s Narcotics Control Department in February after being found in possession of approximately 3.5 grams of dried cannabis at his Tokyo residence.

Appearing in court wearing a black suit, Nishimiya had neatly trimmed short hair and appeared more tanned than before, with healthy-looking skin.

Standing at the witness stand with a tense expression, he answered, “I’m a musician, a singer,” when the judge asked about his occupation.

According to the indictment, on February 2 he possessed 3.517 grams of dried cannabis at his Tokyo home. On the same day, after surfing in Chiba Prefecture, he allegedly inhaled a mixture of cocaine and MDMA while driving toward his residence in Tokyo. Upon arriving home, he was subjected to a search by the Narcotics Control Department and was arrested on the spot. He acknowledged the charges, stating, “There is no mistake.”

What emerged during questioning that day was the extent of his long relationship with drugs.

During questioning by his defense attorney, Nishimiya described his first encounter with drugs. He first used cannabis at age 20 while studying in the United States. The children at the home where he was staying were using it, and he said:

“Music sounded three-dimensional, and I felt a sense of peace and relief.”

He used cannabis about once or twice a month until age 24, just before his debut.

After that, he stopped using drugs for a time. However, in 2024, at a festival in Los Angeles, he received cannabis and cocaine from local staff members and resumed drug use.

Regarding the offenses in question, he stated that while in Hawaii between late last year and January, he purchased drugs from a friend who was a dealer. He added that the MDMA had been given to him as a bonus.

Closely tied to surf culture

When asked why he used marijuana, Nishinomiya explained:

“I wanted to escape from excessive expectations and pressure placed on myself. I wanted to refresh myself.”

Asked about his feelings at the time of his arrest, he recalled:

“When I was being taken to the Narcotics Control Department office in Kudanshita (Chiyoda Ward), they told me, ‘Take a look.’ I saw Nippon Budokan from inside the car. My face is dark-skinned, so it may not have shown, but I went completely pale. I was devastated and saddened.”

After being released on bail, he has been living with his parents at their home. While attending drug counseling, he said:

“In my 45 years of life, I’ve never lived such a regular lifestyle. I wake up at 5 a.m., take a walk with my therapy dog, work on music production from Monday to Friday, and go surfing on weekends. I don’t know when I’ll be able to return, but I’m building up my stamina.”

This also explained the reason for his tanned appearance. Regarding his future plans, he added:

“I’ve disappointed my fans. I’m slowly preparing so that we can deliver our music again as soon as possible.”

However, prosecutors questioned the extent of Nishinomiya’s dependence on drugs. When asked what purpose marijuana served, he answered:

“I used it to listen to my own music objectively. I wanted to know whether I could create good songs and surpass my previous work. As I struggled through the pain of creating music, it helped support me.”

He also described cocaine as producing:

“A feeling of warmth in the body. I used it to calm myself.”

He further revealed that he would mix MDMA powder with cocaine to ease the discomfort he experienced when using cocaine, indicating that he used different drugs for different purposes.

Speaking again about his marijuana use, he said:

“I’ve had a lot of experience overseas, and my family also ran a surf shop. I saw surfers and foreign athletes bringing marijuana with them. It was closely connected to surf culture.”

When a prosecutor asked, “Can you completely break away from it?” he replied:

“Other people are other people, and I am myself. I never want to go back to a detention center again.”

Declaring his intention to quit drugs for good, he faced a prosecution argument that he had a high affinity with drugs and a pronounced dependency, and prosecutors sought a two-year prison sentence.

How the judge viewed his “My Way” comeback plan—one that still involves remaining connected to surf culture—remains to be seen. The verdict was scheduled to be handed down on June 11.